Indian Media, Politicians Beguiled by Obama’s Charms

In a recent Feet in 2 Worlds post, writer Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska, wrote that ethnic minorities pay attention and cast a favorable eye on a political candidate when he takes the time to acknowledge their communities.

Nothing provides a better object lesson for that sentiment than the contents of Sen. Barack Obama’s pockets.

Obama, asked by a woman at a town hall what he carried in his pockets, revealed a handful of good luck charms given to him by well-wishers on the campaign trail.They included a bracelet of a soldier deployed in Iraq, a poker chip, some lucky coins, a Madonna and child, and a small “monkey god.”

A picture of Obama’s palms outstretched with the charms scattered across them made Time’s ‘White House Picture of the Day,’ and the little “monkey god”, Hanuman, caught the eye of many Indians.

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About Ashwini Anburajan

Ashwini Anburajan is Founder and CEO of a Social Data Collective, a private data marketplace that allows consumers to access, control and monetize their data. Social Data Collective allows consumers to trade data from a variety of sources for high quality products and services offered by brand partners. She was previously Director of Partner Development at Buzzfeed, and at Outcast prior to that. She has created cutting edge thought leadership and has advised some of the largest names in media on their social publishing strategy, including USA Today, New York Times, Hearst and CondeNast.